Vanilla Ice`s `Ice Ice Baby` Freezes Out `black Cat`

November 02, 1990|By Jan DeKnock.

The shakeup at the top of the singles charts continues, with Janet Jackson`s ``Black Cat`` (now No. 2) becoming the fifth straight song to hold the No. 1 spot for only one week. (The last record to repeat as champ was Wilson Phillips` ``Release Me,`` which ruled for two weeks in September.)

The newest No. 1 is Vanilla Ice`s rap-dance hit ``Ice Ice Baby,`` which moved up from No. 3-and right past ``Black Cat``-on the strength of superior record sales.

But also gaining momentum was another hot song that could quickly end the reign of ``Ice``: Mariah Carey`s big ballad ``Love Takes Time,`` which jumped from No. 5 to No. 3 and could take over the top spot next week. It`s already in its second week at No. 1 on the adult contemporary list.

Elsewhere in the Top 20, the biggest gain was scored by Whitney Houston`s ``I`m Your Baby Tonight,`` which zipped from No. 29 to No. 18 in just its third chart week and is still on track for future No. 1 honors. Other good movers: Alias` ``More Than Words Can Say`` (up from No. 14 to No. 8), Candyman`s ``Knockin` Boots`` (from No. 18 to No. 11) and Deee-lite`s ``Groove Is in the Heart`` (from No. 20 to No. 12, and already a multiple-week No. 1 on the dance singles list).

However, the big news again was made by those two ``Unchained Melody``

records, which several weeks ago made chart history when both were in the Top 40 at the same time. This week, the original Righteous Brothers oldie (on Verve Records) slipped to No. 17, but the newly re-recorded version (on Curb Records) jumped from No. 22 to No. 19, putting both in the Top 20 in the same week.

Over on the LP list, M.C. Hammer`s ``Please Hammer Don`t Hurt `Em``

extended its chart-topping reign to 21 weeks but now is facing yet another new challenger: Vanilla Ice`s ``To the Extreme,`` which swept from No. 5 to No. 2 thanks to the No. 1 success of its ``Ice Ice Baby`` single. Slipping from No. 2 to No. 3 was last week`s hot contender, AC/DC`s ``The Razors Edge``; the news was even worse for George Michael`s much-hyped ``Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1,`` which dropped from No. 3 to No. 5 and appears to have little chance now of repeating the phenomenal success of his Grammy-winning

This week, there are two pick hits: ``Try Me,`` an appealing dance number and strong debut single by TV star Jasmine Guy; and ``Freedom,`` which could put some badly needed momentum back into George Michael`s ``Listen Without Prejudice`` album.